The famous Monte-Carlo street circuit has held the Monaco Grand Prix since 1929, and was on the first world championship calendar in 1950.

Since those early days the track has evolved, sprouting new corners, shifting its pits between three different locations and being completely overhauled to improve safety.

The onboard videos from the 1970s up to the present day show how the challenge of Monaco has changed.

1976 – Patrick Depailler, Tyrrell-Cosworth

Patrick Depailler in the unorthodox six-wheeled Tyrrell of 1976. The Monte-Carlo circuit had been re-configured three years early diverting the track around the swimming pool, and thereafter sweeping into the very tight Rascasse corner around Rosie’s bar.

1981 – Alain Prost, Renault

Alain Prost threads his turbo-charged Renault through the winding streets of Monaco. The abrupt power delivery of the turbos amplified the challenge of racing between the walls.

After qualifying ninth Prost retired with engine failure in 1981. The following year he was leading with only a couple of laps to go when he crashed at the harbour front as rain began to fall.

1985 – Ayrton Senna, Lotus-Renault

The 1985 race saw the final race of the old, fast harbour front chicane – watch how Senna threads his Lotus Renault turbo through it.

Senna scored his third career pole position at Monte-Carlo in 1985. Engine failure ended his race that year but he would go on to win the race a record six times.

1998 – Giancarlo Fisichella, Benetton-Playlife

In this video we can see the new harbour chicane and also the changes to the swimming complex that were made in 1997, moving the barriers back.

Giancarlo Fisichella has often shone at Monaco although he has never won the race. He qualified third and finished second fior Benetton in 1998.

2007 – Christijan Albers, Spyker

In 2003 more of the barriers were moved back and the entry to Rascasse was eased. In 2006 Michael Schumacher infamously stopped his car at the exit of Rascasse, feigning error, in an attempt to prevent the Fernando Alonso from taking pole position off him.

Christijan Albers started last in the 2007 race and was dropped by the Spyker team four races later.

You can read more about the changes to the Monaco Grand Prix circuit over the years in these articles:

12 comments on Video: Four decades of Monaco onboard

I rate Tabac as the most difficult turn in modern era. 220 km/h, 4th gear, barriers surronding with no margen for error, seems to me the most spectacular point of the season. And modern cars, with tons of downforce, make it more impressive. But I feel it was a bit easier yesterdays. On the other hand, what piece of fast chicane we lost….. oooooouuuuuuaaaaaaauuuuu…. Why don’t they bring it back? With these modern anticrash tanks called Formula 1 cars it wouldn’t be too dangerous indeed…

In much of the footage there are *gasp* spectators leaning on the armcos, and I hope those are marshalls standing on the kerb…

I almost missed the difference in the chicane, but by the 1998 footage I could tell, by bringing the road out farther, that section became much slower. You’ll also notice that the camera crews are now wise to the problems of photographing the cars as they pass through the tunnel.

I used to joke that there is a cliche in Japanese racing video games of the 90’s, that they all have a track that contains a suspension bridge and a tunnel. I believe the suspension bridge is returning to F1 through Singapore, isn’t it?

I love the tunnel and swimming pool sections, with the armco barriers looming up as if to greet the first poor bugger to make a mistake.
My favourite lap of Monaco in recent times was Raikkonen’s pole lap back in 2005, when he pipped Fernando by half a second. The aerial shot of Kimi going through the swimming pool complex was outstanding, as if the McLaren was on rails.
There is no other street course on earth that can generate that much emotion, unbelievable.
P.S Keith. A great selection of videos mate, 10/10!

I agree Keith, this is a fabulous collection of videos.
There is a great one on youtuube of Senna in about 89/90 or 1991. In 1989 he took pole by over a second from his teammate, the old Master of Monaco Alain Prost, and more then two seconds to the third place driver. Surely one of the greatest pieces of driving ever.
Also, I would advice any reader who has enjoyed this article to watch the first twenty minutes of the movie “Grand Prix” for wonderful onboard footage from the 60s. It really is fantastic.

The 1998 video is Martin Brundle doing his usual track walk-through on ITV. I usually space-out while watching them, but…yeah, this one is fascinating. Probably because he actually raced at Monaco, while half of the current tracks were added after he retired.